Man rescued from burning car
Published: November 8, 2006
Two construction workers rescued a Roxborough man from a burning sport-utility vehicle after he blacked out behind the wheel on the morning of Oct. 24.
Robert Birkmire, 68, now retired, blacked out while driving in the former Mrs. Paul’s parking lot that borders the Schuylkill River near the under-construction Venice Lofts Condominiums in Manayunk.
Birkmire’s car became stuck on a curb, and the rear wheels continued to spin on the asphalt because the accelerator was pressed. The spinning wheels soon caused the car to ignite.
That’s when the two construction workers pulled Birkmire from the car and called the fire department.
The workers “probably did save my life,” said Birkmire. “I’m all right now. That’s about all I can say.” [An Angel Saved My Life]
When firefighters from Engine 12 arrived at the lot - three minutes after they received the call for the fire - Birkmire’s car was engulfed in flames and smoke.
Paramedics rushed Birkmire to Roxborough Memorial Hospital, and he felt better within 24 hours.
“The next day my head was clear, my body temperature was back to normal,” said Birkmire. “I had all the tests you could think of done, and I’m all right.”
Birkmire said he wanted to thank the firefighters, paramedics and hospital staff - especially “Pat” and “Debbie,” two nurses - who helped him.
“I’ve never had an experience like this before, and I don’t want another one. I almost lost my life,” he said.
Birkmire said he does not remember what the workers look like, although one was tall and one was short.
A man who answered the phone at the construction site, which is run by J.J. DeLuca Company Inc., said that two workers from the site pulled Birkmire from the car, although he did not provide the workers’ names. An answering machine message left at the site’s office was not returned by Monday.
Firefighters who put out the vehicle fire also did not know the rescuers’ identities. [Firefighters]
Whoever the rescuers are, Birkmire and his family are grateful.
“I hope they (the rescuers) read this,” Gina Birkmire, who is married to Robert Birkmire, said. “I hope they’re glad because they know who they are, and because they know that they cared enough to respond.”
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